Canadian Tech Training Firms Uvaru Inc. & Lighthouse Labs File for Bankruptcy
Canadian tech training firms Uvaru Inc. and Lighthouse Labs file for bankruptcy six months after acquisition.
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On August 1, 2025, Uvaru Inc. and Lighthouse Labs filed for bankruptcy. B. Riley Farb Inc. (operating as GlassRatner Restructuring Inc.) has been appointed as the trustee to oversee the bankruptcy proceedings.
This is likely to come as a surprise to many after Uvaru Inc. announced only six months ago that it was acquiring Lighthouse Labs. As this filing occurred on August 1st, there is little public information yet as to what exactly happened, so I am not going to speculate about the actions of Uvaru Inc. or Lighthouse Labs. However, what we do know of the current high-tech labor market may give hints at some of the external factors.
This may be the first wake-up call for the high-tech training field, which has become increasingly difficult and competitive as the job market for these jobs has shifted over the last five years. Over the last few years, the job market for the digital and tech fields has changed, and it is no longer easy to find entry-level positions. Some estimate there is an approximate 4 million cyber security professional shortage worldwide, but new data is increasingly indicating that the bulk of these shortages are in middle or upper management. This potentially indicates a different range of potential issues that are more structural to how industries are making use of their tech workers. Ultimately, if true, this also means the cyber security skills shortage that cannot be filled with entry-level training.
Such conditions have likely been putting increased pressure on the likes of Uvaru Inc. and Lighthouse Labs.
What does this mean?
All employees are terminated.
A brief search reveals there has been a trickle of layoffs over the last few weeks. If you are hiring, consider former Uvaru Inc. and Lighthouse Labs folk!
All course access ends immediately.
Separate creditors meetings will be held for Uvaru Inc and Lighthouse Labs on August 22.
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What is the National and Industry Impact?
Regardless of the causes, this is a major blow for Canada and all involved. From what I have been hearing, this has shocked many former and current students. Open sources suggest that Lighthouse began cancelling some courses in mid to Late July. It is unclear how many students were enrolled in courses or preparing to start, or if any will receive refunds. I have not heard anything negative about Uvaru or Lighthouse Labs training, so this should not reflect negatively upon those who have gone through the training.
A lot of high-tech training, particularly cybersecurity, is dominated by United States bodies and corporations. The loss of Uvaru Inc. and Lighthouse Labs significantly reduces Canada's options for Canadian-owned companies, as they previously held major market positions in the broader Canadian tech training sector. This is a major blow to Canada’s competitiveness in this sector.
Those on the government/policy side of things may recall Lighthouse Labs, as they received $21.2 million in 2023 from the Government of Canada to provide “1,700 individuals across the country with digital and soft skills training to help them enter the ICT sector or retain their current positions in an ever-changing field.”